Bears in Literature

While Sir Charles G D Roberts, who created the Realistic Animal Story, wrote about wild animals of the Canadian Northwoods in the late 19th Century, his bears were true-to-the-wild depictions. At the same time, Kipling gave the world his talking animal character, Baloo…

Muinej The Bear’s Cub – A Mi’kmaq Bear Story Retold

And then there was a noise and sunlight spilled into the cave as the boulder was rolled away. “Ebit! Nidap!” came a deep growling voice. “What is happening? There is the smell of humans here.” And Giju’muin, a big mother bear, crawled into the cave. Snuffing noisily, her hot breath poured onto Mikinawk’s face. “You are dangerous, little human…”

“The Bear That Thought He Was A Dog” A Classic Animal Story by Sir Charles G D Roberts

The gaunt, black mother lifted her head from nuzzling happily at the velvet fur of her little one. The cub was but twenty-four hours old, and engrossed every emotion of her savage heart–but her ear had caught the sound of heavy footsteps coming up the mountain…

How the Bear Lost its Tail & Other Bear Stories

Bears are international, even in animal stories and folk tales. From the classic “Silver Hair and the Three Bears” (which morphed into the kinder, gentler Goldilocks story) to the realistic, often tragic, animal fiction of Sir Charles G D Roberts, bears have shambled and fumbled and interacted with humans in our literature…

What is Canada’s National Animal? The Polar Bear

“The polar bear, with its strength, courage, resourcefulness, and dignity is perfect for the part,” Nicole Eaton said recently in a speech to the Canadian Senate, when suggesting a rebranding of Canada’s national animal. And we agree…

Do Bears Sleep? Bear Hibernation in Montana

Here in Atlantic Canada, wild bears don’t sleep all winter. Those warm wet winds off the ocean will often melt snow, add a few springlike days between days of freezing weather. And a bear or two will crawl out of its den and wonder…

Teddy Bears in History

“Okay, I’ll take the pink one with the torn ear.” The guy behind the counter scratches his neck, “Are you being serious?” Her face is stoic, “Absolutely. I never kid about teddy bears.” – Jessica Sorensen